EB-1ALaw, policy, social scienceIndividualDecided February 2026Dismissed
Outcome: Dismissed
FEB192026_01B2203
High salaryMetJudgingMetScholarly articlesMetAwardsNot metMembershipNot metFinal meritsNot met
Our summary
A Kazakh law professor sought EB-1A classification as alien of extraordinary ability. Although meeting three evidentiary criteria—judging, scholarly articles, and high salary—the AAO affirmed SCOPS finding that the petitioner lacked sustained national or international acclaim necessary to demonstrate extraordinary ability at the highest level.
Official PDF
Official PDF ↗Published by USCIS. The summary is ours, in our own words; the decision text is on uscis.gov.
What the AAO accepted
- High salary · SCOPS found petitioner commanded high salary in relation to others in field.
- Judging · SCOPS found petitioner participated as judge of others' work in field.
- Scholarly articles · SCOPS found petitioner authored scholarly articles in professional and major trade journals.
What was missing
- Awards · No major internationally recognized award demonstrated.
- Membership · Membership in expert bodies did not meet criterion for associations requiring outstanding achievements judged by recognized experts.
- Final merits · Petitioner did not demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim or placement among small percentage at very top of field endeavor.
Criteria
| Criterion | Reading | Why |
|---|---|---|
 High salary | Met | SCOPS found petitioner commanded high salary in relation to others in field. |
 Judging | Met | SCOPS found petitioner participated as judge of others' work in field. |
 Scholarly articles | Met | SCOPS found petitioner authored scholarly articles in professional and major trade journals. |
 Awards | Not met | No major internationally recognized award demonstrated. |
 Membership | Not met | Membership in expert bodies did not meet criterion for associations requiring outstanding achievements judged by recognized experts. |
 Final merits | Not met | Petitioner did not demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim or placement among small percentage at very top of field endeavor. |
A published decision describes one case. It is not legal advice and not a prediction for yours.